Article transportation means for printing apparatus



J. H. JORY 3,214,083

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTICLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS FOR PRINTING APPARATUS Oct. 26, 1965 Filed Dec. 17, 1963 INVENTOR.

JOHN H. JORY ATTORNEYS J. H. JORY Oct. 26, 1965 ARTICLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS FOR PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J OHN H. JORY ATTORN EYS J. H. JORY Oct. 26, 1965 ARTICLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS FOR PRINTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1963 It. E: 1

o o o 0 o o o o F m m M 0 N u w M H O J ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,214,083 ARTICLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS FOR PRINTING APPARATUS John H. Jory, 1400 17th St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,198 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-69) This invention relates to the handling of articles such as envelopes for the purpose of printing indicia thereon. More specifically, it is concerned with the manner of removably attaching envelopes and the like on a carrier web that is processed through printing apparatus.

In the preferred embodiment the invention relates to a system for transporting envelopes in quantity through automated printing apparatus so as to coordinate the transportation and feed of the envelopes through the apparatus with the subject matter to be printed on the envelopes. The gist of the invention lies in the construction of the carrier web upon which the envelopes are temporarily attached while the Web is moved through the printing apparatus. The web, which may be of paper, contains slits for holding the edges of the envelopes. In addition to the slits, the web also has a series of transverse perforation lines. The slits holding at least two corners of each envelope are contiguous with one of these perforation lines.

After the web has been used to transport the envelopes through the printing apparatus the perforation lines are burst. Since at least two of the slits holding each envelope are contiguous with a perforation line, the bursting of the perforation line serves to enlarge or open the slits so that the envelopes can be readily removed from the web.

Paper carrier webs have previously been used for articles such as envelopes for purpOses similar to that herein described. These prior embodiment have involved the use of supplementary sections that are attached to the edge of the envelope flap. The supplementary section is severable from the flap by tearing along a perforation line. The supplementary section contains adhesive which provides the mechanism for attachment to the carrier web. Aside from the greatest deterrent in the fact that such a construction involves undesirable expense in the manufacture of the envelope, it has the additional disadvantage of requiring that the envelope flap be extended while the envelope is attached to the carrier web.

As will be made more clear hereinafter the present invention avoids the necessity of supplementary attachments to the envelope and thereby substantially and significantly reduces the cost of envelopes used in automated printing systems. The present invention has the further advantage in that the envelope flap can be either outwardly extended or folded against the envelope body as desired While the envelope is attached to the carrier web. The position of the flap is important at the time that items are placed in the envelope.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided an envelope transportation system for printing apparatus including a web having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse perforation lines to facilitate dissociation of the web there-along. Adjacent transverse perforation lines define an envelope supporting surface therebetween. Each of the supporting surfaces has a plurality of slits for receiving the corners of an envelope therein to retain the envelope in fixed relation on the supporting surface. At least two of the slits are positioned along a common transverse perforation line so that bursting of the perforation line enlarges the slit sufficiently to permit rapid separation of the envelope from the slits and supporting surface.

The preferred embodiment is characterized by the fact that after the perforation lines have been :burst and the slits thereby enlarged or opened, the envelope is rapidly and readily removable from the web. Of importance is the fact that the removal step itself can be accomplished by relatively unidirectional movement of the envelope with respect to the supporting web. The significance of this Will be appreciated from the fact that until such time as the perforation lines are burst it would require a complex movement to discharge the envelopes from the slits. By permitting the removal to occur with a simple unidirectional motion, the removal operation can be rapidly accomplished with relatively simple machinery.

While the preferred embodiment contemplates bursting of the perforation lines to enlarge the slits as noted, it should be apparent that the present invention has advantageous utility even Where the bursting technique is not employed for separation of the envelope. Thus, it is within the present concept to employ slits in the carrier Web for holding the corners of the envelope or the like and where separation is accomplished simply by sliding the envelope from its slits without first enlarging the slits. The technique of holding the envelope on its supporting surface with slits offers the advantages noted above of economy and avoidance of supplementary sections. Also, in the case of envelopes, the envelope flap may be extended or folded through the use of slits even where bursting is not used. In the event that bursting is not contemplated, there of course is no necessity for any of the slits to touch or cross any transverse perforations or seams. For that matter there is no requirement of perforations or seams in this case at all although as a practical matter they will be desired to enable the web to be conveniently folded.

Other features of the present invention include the incorporation of streamline tabs which are preferably formed from the surface of the web itself. These tabs are used to overlie the leading edges of the envelope and its flap relative to the direction of movement of the web so as to preclude these edges from catching and binding upon other envelopes, the web, or the machinery utilized at any point in the processing of the envelopes. In the embodiment employing open and extended envelope flaps, part of the streamlining is accomplished by the body of the next adjacent envelope being carried on the web.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope with its flap folded and retained on a carrier web by insertion of its corners in slits in the carrier web.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side of the web.

FIG. 3 shows in plan view an alternate embodiment wherein the envelope is retained on the carrier web with its flap extended.

FIG. 4 shows the reverse side of the carrier web of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship of the web and envelope of FIGS. 3 and 4 during bursting of the perforations and the commencement of removal of the envelope from the carrier web.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship of the web and envelope of FIGS. 1 and 2 following bursting of the perforation line and the commencement of the removal of the envelope from the web.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate method of retaining an envelope on the web with its flap outwardly extended wherein a streamline tab is utilized on the flap.

With respect to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the invention contemplates a carrier web 10 having edge punched holes 11. Web 10 is preferably formed from paper, although there is no requirement that the 3 web be formed from this material and plastic or any other suitable susbtance could be used. The web contains a plurality of spaced apart transverse perforation lines 12, 12. These perforation lines 12, 12' permit web 10 to be severed into a plurality of parts along these lines upon the application of appropriate forces.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated web 10 is paper and contains conventional perforations therein. However, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that perforation lines 12, 12' could take the form of any type of a seam which imparts a lessening of the structural strength of the web along the lines so that web 19 could be severed at those places at the appropriate time.

Adjacent transverse perforation lines 12, 12' define an envelope supporting surface 13 therebetween. Envelope supporting surface 13 contains slits 14, 14', and 15 and 15 therein. These slits are suitably located in supporting surfaces 13 so as to receive the corners of an envelope 16 through the slits. Envelope 16 is thereby retained in place on supporting surface 13 so that web 10 can be moved through appropriate printing apparatus.

As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 other envelopes 17 and 18 are retained on adjacent supporting surfaces 19 and 20 respectively in the same manner that envelope 16 is retained on supporting surfaces 13. A plurality of envelopes is then ready for printing in rapid succession.

In this same embodiment, and as best seen in FIG. 2, envelope flap 21 of envelope 16 is folded against the envelope body in the conventional manner. Since flap 21 is folded and thereby lies between envelope 16 and web 10, it is free from any chance of entanglement with any of the apparatus or other articles being processed during use of the system. On the other hand, assuming that web 10 is moved in the direction of the arrows shown at the left of the drawings for purposes of processing the envelopes through a printing machine, edge 22 of envelope 16 may be regarded as its leading edge. Leading edge 22, in the absence of any precautions, is potentially subject to catching on some portion of the apparatus during handling and either being inappropriately removed from its position on web 16 or being damaged.

In order to prevent such an occurrence a plurality of streamline tabs 23, 24, and 25 are preferably excised from web 10 itself and raised therefrom to overlie leading edge 22 of envelope 16. When Web 10 is moved in the direction of the arrows, leading edge 22 etfectively does not protrude above supporting surface 13 of web 10, tabs 23, 24, 25 moving smoothly as web 10 itself while serving as a path over which machinery and the like may pass without contact with edge 22. As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the other envelopes such as envelope 17 carried on web 10 preferably also employ streamline tabs. In the event that it is desired to handle the envelopes with the flap extended instead of folded as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is suitably employed. As before, a web 26, which may also have edge punched holes 27, contains a plurality of transverse perforation lines 28, 28' defining an envelope supporting surface 29 therebetween.

An envelope 36 having an unfolded and extended flap 31 is retained on supporting surface 29 by means of a plurality of slits 32, 32, 33 and 33 in surface 29. The slits differ from those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that slits 33 and 33' extend across common perforation line 28 and thereby are present in two adjacent supporting surfaces, namely, supporting surface 29 and its adjacent supporting surface 34. Thus, envelope is positioned with respect to supporting surface 29 so that its body portion 35 is present on supporting surface 29 whereas flap 31 of envelope 30 lies within the boundaries of supporting surface 34.

Preferably, the component parts are so positioned that flap fold line 36 of envelope 30 overlies perforation line 28. By placing the parts in this relationship it is possible to fold web 26 along its perforation lines without creating any undesirable folds in the envelopes retained thereon.

The upper corners 37 and 38 of envelope 30 are inserted within slits 33 and 33' respectively. Since slits 33 and 33 extend across perforation line 28 and into supporting surface 34 the corners of envelope flap 31 (which is positioned on surface 34) may also be inserted within slits 33 and 33. Bottom edges 39 and 40 of envelope 30 are inserted within slits 32 and 32 respectively. The streamlining aspect is accomplished in this embodiment with respect to the extended envelope flaps by placing the body of the next adjacent envelope retained on the web over the extended envelope flap. Thus, envelope 41 retained on supporting surface 34 overlies envelope flap 31 of envelope 30. Similarly, body 35 of envelope 30 overlies flap 42 of envelope 43 which is retained on supporting surface 44.

The corners of the envelope body and flap that are inserted through slits 33 and 33' are streamlined with tabs in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, edges 37 and 38 of envelope 30 which are inserted through slits 33 and 33' respectively along with the adjacent portions of envelope flap 31 are streamlined on the under side of web 26 and best seen in FIG. 4 by means of tabs 45 and 46 which overlie the leading edge of envelope flap 31. Similar techniques are utilized on the remaining envelopes retained on web 26.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment for retaining envelopes with flaps extended on a web. Here envelope flap 47 is streamlined with respect to its supporting surface 48 by means of a streamline tab 49 formed from surface 43 and overlying flap 47. With such an arrangement there is no need to overlay an adjacent envelope body over flap 47 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case the envelopes will be relatively widely spaced on the carrier web as compared with the spacing of the envelopes in either the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or 3 and 4.

The webs with envelopes in place are suitably fed through a printing machine. Where the webs contain edge punched holes as shown, placement of printing upon the exposed surfaces of the evelopes is readily coordinated with movement of the envelopes in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

After the web has been fed through the printing apparatus and the envelopes contain the desired indicia printed thereon, separation of the envelopes from the web is executed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 separation occurs as shown in FIG. 6. Here perforation line 12 has been severed by a suitable application of force. This severing or bursting of the perforation line 12 causes slits 14 and 14' to be effectively enlarged or opened since these slits border on perforation line 12. When slits 14 and 14' have been thus enlarged envelope 16 may be easily slid out from slits 14 and 14' and away from supporting surface 13 with a simple unidirectional movement in the direction of the arrow.

In like manner the envelopes with fiaps extended as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are readily removed from web 26 as shown in FIG. 5. Here perforation line 28 has been burst by a suitable force to thereby enlarge and open slits 33 and 33 sufiiciently to permit envelope 30 to be removed with a simple rapid unidirectional movement in the direction of the arrow.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood tht certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for use with automated printing apparatus including a web having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse perforation lines to facilitate dissociation of the web therealong, adjacent transverse perforation lines defining an envelope supporting surface therebetween, each of said supporting surfaces having a plurality of slits for receiving the corners of an envelope therein to retain the envelope in fixed relation on said supporting surface, two of said slits being positioned along a common transverse perforation line so that bursting of said last named perforations enlarges the slits sufiiciently to permit rapid separation of an envelope from the slits and supporting surface.

2. Means for use with automated printing apparatus including a paper web having edge punched holes for cooperation with said printing apparatus, a plurality of transverse regularly spaced perforation lines in said web to facilitate tearing of said web therealong, adjacent ones of said transverse perforation lines defining an envelope supporting surface therebetween, each of said supporting surfaces having four slits therein for receiving the corners of an envelope, an envelope having its corners inserted in said four slits to thereby retain the envelope in fixed relation on said supporting surface, two of said slits being bounded by a common transverse perforation line so that bursting of said common perforation line enlarges the two slits sufiicinetly to permit rapid separation of said envelope from the surpporting surface.

3. Means for use with automated printing apparatus including a Web having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse perforation lines to facilitate dissociation of the web therealong, adjacent transverse perforation lines defining a surface therebetween for supporting articles having relatively thin, fiat corners, each of said supporting surfaces having a plurality of slits for receiving the corners of one of said articles therein to retain the article in fixed relation on said supporting surface, two of said slits being positioned along a common transverse perforation line so that bursting said last named perforations enlarges the slit sufficiently to permit rapid separation of an article from the slits and supporting surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,077 11/55 Whitman 229-69 2, 824,68 6 2/58 Hamilton 229--69 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,279 1908 Great Britain. 142,598 5/20 Great Britain. 928,760 6/63 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR USE WITH AUTOMATED PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING A WEB HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART TRANSVERSE PERFORATION LINES TO FACILITATE DISSOCIATION OF THE WEB THEREALONG, ADJACENT TRANSVERSE PERFORATION LINES DEFINING AN ENVELOPE SUPPORTING SURFACE THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING SURFACES HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLITS FOR RECEIVING THE CORNERS OF AN ENVELOPE THEREIN TO RETAIN THE ENVELOPE IN FIXED RELATION ON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, TWO OF SAID SLITS BEING POSITIONED ALONG 